Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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This invention relates to material handling equipment,
and more particularly to a quick-attaching mechanism for
removably attaching a material handling implement to the end
of a boom structure or the like.
Various prior art me~hanisms are known for providing
quick attachment of a material handling implement to a boom
structure or the like associated with a vehicle. Most prior
art quick-attaching systems employ a four-point interlocking
system between the implement and a mounting structure
provided at the end o the boom structure. This type of
system requires accurate positioning of the mounting
structure relative to the implement in order to ensure
satisfactory mounting of the imp]ement thereto.
Additionally, many prior art quick-attaching systems
utilize a pin and hole arrangement for securing the implement
to the mounting structure. Various mechanisms are known for
engaging the pins with the holes, such as hydraulic actuation
or manual over-center lever systems. There are a number of
drawbacks to this type of system. One such drawback is that
the pins can become lost, re~uiring replacement.
Additionally, the pins may become bent or worn, requiring
maintenance before the system can again function properly.
The present invention provides a rugged and easily
manufactured quick-attaching mechanism for securing an
implement to the end of a boom. The invention also provides
a quick-attaching mechanism in which the implement is easily
engaged with the boom mounting structure, and in which the
mechanism for securing the implement to the boom structure is
simple and easily operated.
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In accordance with the present invention, a quick-
attaching mechanism for coupling an implement to the remote
end of a boom structure or the like, comprising: a mounting
structure provided at the remote end of the boom structure; a
rec2iving structure provided on said implement and engageable
by said mounting structure for removably attaching said
implement to said boom structure; upper pivoting engagement
means for pivotably engaging said mounting structure and said
receiving structure and providing an upper pivot axis, said
upper pivot axis providing pivoting movement of said mounting
structure and said receiving structure between an engaged
position and a disengaged position; lower latching means
provided on one of said structures, said lower latching means
being pivotable between a latching position and a release
position and comprising a depending latch member pivotably
mounted about a pivot axis to said structure and biased
toward a downward position; and lower stationary engagement
means comprising a plate member mounted to the other of said
structures; wherein, after movement of said mounting
structure and said receiving structure from their disengaged
position to their engaged position, the downward bias on said
lower latch member causes movement of said latch member to
its latching position wherein it engages said plate member,
and wherein the distance between said plate member and said
latch member pivot axis when said mounting structure and said
receiving structure are in their engaged position is less
than the length of said latch member, so that said latch
member returns only partially to its depending position to
attain its latching position, said latch member engaging an
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upper surface of said plate member to securely couple said
implement to said boom structure, whereafter movement of said
latch member to its release position uncouples said implement
and said boom structure by allowing pivoting movement between
said mounting structure and said receiving structure from
their engaged position to their disengaged position. The
lower latching means is preferably a single lower latching
member interposed between the mounting structure and the
receiving structure to provide a three-point interlock system
to securely connect the mounting structure and the
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receiving structure. The upper pivoting engagement means
preferably comprises a transverse shaft mounted to the
receiving structure, and a shaft seat and a pair of
upstanding prongs provided on the mounting structure for
engaging the shaft. With such a three-point mounting
arrangement, engagement of the shaft with the prongs and
rearward movement of the upper end of the mounting structure
results in a self-aligning mounting system, providing ease in
operation and a wider range of satisfactory approach angles.
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently
contemplated of carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an extendable boom lift
vehicle with which the quick-attaching mechanism of the
invention is intended for use;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the mounting
structure providing at the end of the extendable boom of the
vehicle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the mounting
structure o~ FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation view, with portions
broken away, showing the mounting structure of FIGS. 2 and 3
prior to engagement with an implement including a receiving
structure;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the mounting
structure and the implement receiving structure in their
engaged position;
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FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view, showing the
latching mechanism of the mounting structure moved to its
release position;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, showing
movement of the mounting structure to its disengaged position
relative to the implement receiving structure;
FIG. 8 is a partial side elevation view, with por~ions
broken away, showing a mounting structure engaged with a
receiving structure constructed according to the ir.vention,
with the receiving structure mounted to a rotating carriage;
and
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view illustrating a mounting
structure and a receiving structure constructed according to
the invention, with the receiving structure provided at the
rear end of a truss boom implement.
As shown in FIG. 1, an extendable boom lift vehicle 10
includes a vehicle portion 12 to which a pair of telescoping
booms 14, 16 are mounted, all as is well known. A support
member 18 is mounted to the remote end of outer boom 16. A
carriage assembly 22, including a pair of lower tines 23, 24,
is mounted to support member 18, and a pair of tilt
cylinders, one of which is shown at 26, are provided for
controlling the orientation of carriage assembly 22.
The precise construction of lift vehicle 10 can vary
from t.hat described, as many such vehicles are known. For
example, booms 14, 16 can be single-section or multiple-
section booms, and a single tilt cylinder may be used in
place of the pair of tilt cylinders illustrated.
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FI~S~ 2 and 3 illustrate a mounting structure 28 adaptedfor interposition between carriage assembly 22 and support
member 18 and the tilt cylinders, such as 25. As shown in
FIG. 2, the rear face of ~ounting structure 28 includes a
series of lower conneckor plates 30, 32, 34 and 36, each of
which is provided with an opening therethrough. Connector
plates 30, 32 and 34, 36 are adapted to receive a pair of
pins therethrough, respectively, for mounting support member
18
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to rnounting structure 28. A pair of upper connector
plates 38, 40 are provided for mounting the tilt
cylinders to mounting structure 28. In this manner~
the lower end of mounting struc~ure 28 is fixed
relative to the remote end of outer boom 16, and the
upper end of mounting structure 28 is pivotable
forwardly and rearwardly for controlling ~he orienta-
tion of mounting structure 28.
Mounting structure 28 further includes a pair
1~ of upwardly extending prongs 42, 44 having rear faces
46, 48, respectively. Prongs 42, 44 are each ori~ntecl
at an angle relative to the vertical centerline of
mounting structure 23, so as to converge toward each
other. ~s shown in FIG. ~ a shaft seat 49 is formed at
lS the base o~ prong 44, and a like shaft seat is provided
at the base of prong 42.
FIG. 3 illustrates the front face of mounting
structure 28. As shown, a pair of support members 50,
52 are mounted to the front face of ~ountîng structure
28. A pair of plates 54, 56 are connected to support
members 50, 52, and each of plates 54, 56 is provided
with an opening therethrough for receiving the ends of
a shaft 58. The sides of plates 54, 56 adjacent the
opening therethrough are countersunk, as shown in the
broken away portion of plate 56.
A latch mechanism, shown generally at 60, is
adapted for mounting to shaft 58. Latch mechanism 60
includes a tube 62 mounted to shaft 58 by means of a
pair of pins 63a, 63b, and a depending latch m~mber 64
connected at its upper end to the outer surface of tube
62. An opening 65 is provided in depending latch
member 64. A coil spring 66 is connected at one end to
plate 54, and is positioned so that its other end
extends past the leftward edge of latch rnember 64.
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With the described construction, any foreign
material such as dirt, sand or the like which makes it
way between the ends of shaft 58 and th~e bearing
surfaces of plates 54, 56 is purged during rotation of
shaft 58~ Such purging action is facilitated by the
counterunk sides of plates 54, 56 providing a reduced
bearing area.
With reference to FIG~ 4, a receiving
structure is provided on the rear side of carriage 22,
with which mounting structure 28 is engageable.
Carriage 22 includes a frame 68, which is provided at
its rear face with a pair of spaced lugs, one of which
is shown at 70, between which a shaft 72 extends. The
lo~er end of carriage Çrame 68 is provided with a sub~
stantially horizontal plate 74. A locking bar 76 i5
mounted to the upper surface of plate 74.
Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen
that mounting structure 28 is provided with a pair of
shoulders 77a, 77b. Shoulders 77a, 77b are arranged so
as to allow mounting structure 28 to be accepted by the
receiving structure provided on carriage frame 68.
The structural elements forming mounting
structure 28 and the receiving structure associated
with carriage frame 68 having been explained, the
sequence of steps for engaging mounting structure 28
with the receiving structure will now be detailed.
Carriage 22 is disposed on the ground or other such
supporting surface. Mounting structure 28 is then
positioned by actuation of the tilt cylinders substan-
tially to the angular orien~ation as shown in FIG. 4.
Mounting structure 28 is then moved rightwardly so that
prongs 42, 44 are positioned below and forwardly of
shaft 72, whereafter mounting structure 28 is moved
upwardly so that base 48 of prong 44 guides shaft 72
into shaft seat 49 provided at the base of prongs 42,
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44. ~ounting structure 28 thus assumes the position
shown in FIG. 4. An upstanding block such as 78 is
~rovided adjacent sha~ seat 49 and spaced from prong
44 or securing shaft 72 into shaft seat 490
After the position of FIG. 4 is attained, the
operator lifts mountiny s-tructure 28 and actuat.es the
tilt cylinders so as to draw the upper end of mounting
structure 28 rearwardly so as to allow mounting
structure 28 and the receiving structure to attain
their e-ngaged position, as shown in FIG. 57 Carriage
22 is lifted off the ground and pivots in a clockwise
direction about a pivot axis defined by shaft 7?..
During such pivoting movement of carriage rame 68
relative to mounting structure 28, latch member 64 is
caused to contact the upper surface of plate 74 and
locking bar 76 and to pivot in a clockwise directîon up
and over locking bar 76. Thereafter, latch member 64
returns partially to its original depending position,
with the lower end of latch member 64 engaging the
20 upper surface of plate 74 as shown in FIG. 5. Spring
66 assists latch member 64 in attaining this position.
As shown, the vertical distance between the
upper surface of plate 74 and the centerline of shaft
58, to which latch member 64 is mounted, is less than
the length of latch member 640 Accordingly, when latch
member 64 is pivoted clockwise during movement of
carriage frame 68 and mounting structure 28 to their
engaged position, with latch member 64 riding over
locking bar 76 and returning in a counterclockwise
pivoting motion to engage the upper surface of plate
74, latch member 64 is not allowed to fully return to
its vertical position. In this condition, carriage
frame 68 is securely mounted to mounting structure
28. Any rightward loads placed on carriage frame 68,
35 such as for example by encountering an obstruction or
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by tilting carriage 68 so as to create a tendency for
carriage 68 to pivot about shaft 72, is resisted by
engagement of the lower end of latch member 64 with the
upper surface plate 74. Of course, any leftward loads
exerted on carriage frame 68 are transferred directly
to mounting structure 28.
Locking bar 76 serves to prevent leftward
movement of latch member 64 along the upper surface of
plate 74 and out of engagement therewith~
Shoulders 77a, 77b on mounting structure 28
are designed to be positioned below the lugs, such as
70, to which shaft 72 are mounted. In this manner, the
mounting structure and the receiving structure can be
matched for specific implements and machine capacities,
ensuring that a small capacity machine cannot have an
implement adapted for use with a larger capacity
machine ~ounted thereto.
With reference to FIG. 6, in order to
uncouple mounting structure 28 from carriage 22,
carriage 22 is first positioned such that mounting
structure 28 is substantially vertical. In this
position, there is no load on latch member 64. Latch
member 64 is then manually pivoted in a clockwise
direction past spring 66 to attain a release position
as shown in FIG. 6. In this manner, the lower
engagement provided between mounting structure 28 and
carriage frame 6a is relieved. Mounting structure 28
can then be withdrawn from carriage frame 68 by
reversing the above noted steps used for mounting.
3~ Mounting structure 28 is withdrawn by simultaneous
extension of the tilt cylinders and retraction of the
outer boom for providing a clockwise tilting action~
When this occurs, block 78 ensures that shaft 72 is
retained within shaft seat 49 during pivoting movement
of mounting structure 28 out of engagement with the
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receiving structure. During disengagement, latch
member 64 rides along the upper surface of plate 74 and
over locking bar 76, as shown in FIG. 7, and out of
engagement therewith. After the lower end of mounting
structure 20 is rotated out of the receiving structure
as described, carriage 22 is lowered ~to the ground.
Thereafter, mounting s~ruc~ure 28 is moved further
downwardly so as to disengage the prongs, such as 44,
from upper shaft 72.
While manual movement of latch member 64 to
its release position has been described, it is
understood that any satisfac~ory means may be
utilized. For example, a mechanism employing a
hydraulic cylinder or an electric solenoid may be
provided for pivoting latch member 64 to its release
position. In such a case, spring 66 would not be
necessary to maintain latch 64 in its latching
position.
FI~ 8 illustrates the invention as utilized
~ in connection with a rotating carriage. In this
embodiment, a separate receiver structure 80 is bolted
to a rotating carriage frame 82 which includes a
bearing assembly 84. A hydraulic cylinder (no~ shown)
is adapted for placement between a rearwardly project-
ing arm 86 and a mounting bracket 88 for tilting of
carriage frame 82 about an axis as defined by a stub 90
extending through bearing assembly 84. Receiver
structure 80 generally includes the same components as
described above, and accordingly a detailed description
is not necessary.
As shown in FIG. 9, a receiver structure 92
substantially similar to that described above is
adapted for mounting at the rearward end of a truss
boom assembly 94. Again, the components of receiver
structure 92 and mounting structure 28 are
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substantially similar to that as described above, and a
detailed description of structure and operation is not
necessary.
As shown, it is to be appreciated that
mounting structure 28 and a receiver structure, such as
that shown at 80 and 92, can be adapted for use in
connection with a number of implements adapted for
connection to the end of a boom or other such
mechanism. Alternatively, the receiver structure can
be built into the implement or ~ool, as described in
connection with FIGS. 4-7.
With the construction as described, it is
seen that a relatively simple, rugged and efficient
quick attach system is provided for mounting a tool or
implement to a boom. Only one manual step i5 involved,
namely pivoting the latch member from its latching
position to its release position. The remainder of the
steps are all carried out from the operator's cabO
~he described quick-attaching mechanism
allows engagement of the implement at full boom
extension, which may be necessary when reaching over
rubbish and material piles. Further, the design allows
the operator simply to engage the prongs with the upper
shaft and to lift the boom, resulting in self-alignment
of the implement with the boom and simultaneous
coupling of the implement to the mounting structure.
The latch is a nonlubricated, loose fitting assembly
requiring little or no maintenance, and will not rust
together.
Various alternatives and modifications are
contemplated as being within the scope of the following
claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention9
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